Joint gluing mechanism in a book casing-in machine



March 21, 1967 J. H. THORP JOINT GLUING MECHANISM IN A BOOK CASING-INMACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1964 wwwk INVENTOR. JAMES H. THORP BY g/ Q N GtA TTORNEYS Sates This invention relates to book casing-in machines ofthe type wherein book fillers are successively fed toward a casing-instation to be mated with a bookcase or cover, and deals moreparticularly with a mechanism for gluing the joints of such fillers. Thegeneral type of machine and gluing mechanism referred to is morecompletely shown and described in my co-pending application, Ser. No.157,109, entitled, Apparatus for Use With a Casing- In Machine, filedDec. 5, 1961.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improvedjoint gluing mechanism for a casing-in machine wherein fillers of aminimum vertical height can be accommodated as a result of a novelarrangement of various parts of the joint gluing mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a joint gluingmechanism for a casing-in machine wherein two oppositely arrangedrollers are continuously driven in a common generally horizontal planeand are movable in the plane toward and away from the filler to beglued.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a joint gluingmechanism for a casing-in machine wherein the rollers for applying glueto the joints of a filler are movable toward and away from the fillerwithout interrupting the application of a continuous coating of gluethereon.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a joint gluing mechanism constructed inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the FIG. 1mechanism.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, FIG. 2 shows a jointgluing mechanism adapted to be installed on a casing-in machine (notshown) by two arms 12, 12 attachable at their lower ends to the frame ofthe machine. Such a machine is fully shown and described in theaforementioned co-pending patent application and need not be describedherein. As best shown in FIG. 1, such a machine is adapted to feedfillers of the type indicated at 14, generally horizontally andlongitudinally in the direction of the arrow 16. In a machine equippedwith a mechanism of the present invention, the fillers are fed below anelongated bed, indicated generally at 18, which extends transverselyabove and across the path of filler movement as shown in FIG. 2.

The bed 18 comprises a pair of parallel guide rods 20, 20 the ends ofwhich are fixedly attached to the upper portions of the arms 12, 12 bynuts 22, 22 threadably received on the ends of said rods. Also providedin the bed 18 is a splined shaft 24- rotatably supported adjacent itsend portions in two bearings 26, 26 defined in the upper portions of thearms 12, 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the splined shaft 24 is driven by adrive shaft 28 arranged at right angles thereto and having a bevel gear30 which meshes with a similar gear 32 on the shaft 24. While the shaft24 may be made in one piece, in the construction shown two splinedsegments are preferably joined end to end by a collar 34.

Leftand right-hand carriages, 36 and 38 respectively, are slidablysupported on the guide rods 20, 20 and means are provided forreciprocably moving the carriages horizontally toward and then away fromthe longitudinal path of movement of the fillers. In the description tofollow only the left-hand carriage 36 will be described in detail, itbeing understood that the right-hand carriage 38 is substantiallyidentical thereto. As shown the means for moving the left-hand carriage36 comprises a rack segment 40 slidably received in the left-hand arm 12and connected to the left-hand carriage 36, and a gear segment 42 whichis pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the left-hand stationaryarm 12 for reciprocably moving the said rack segment. The gear segment42 is adapted to be oscillated by a push rod 44 connected at its upperend to an arm 46 on the gear segment and at its lower end to aconvenient drive means in the casing-in machine. Such drive meansoperates the push rod in timed relationship with the movement of fillersbetween the leftand right-hand carriages 36 and 38 respectively. Therighthand carriage 38 is movable in an opposite direction and in unisonwith the left-hand carriage 36 by the operation of a correspondingright-hand push rod 48.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the left-hand carriage 36,FIG. 1 shows this part of the joint gluing mechanism as comprisingtransversely spaced inner and outer slide blocks, 50 and 52respectively, each of which defines two parallel openings for receivingthe guide rods 20, 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the slide blocks 50 and 52are connected at their lower ends to a drip pan 54 which is of shallowdepth to allow the mechanism for feeding fillers (not shown) to passtherebeneath. In prior joint gluing mechanisms, the vertical spacerequired for the glue roller and its associated reservoir has restrictedthe use of automatic casing-in machines to gluing relatively highfillers. It will be apparent that the shallow drip pan 54 shown occupiesonly a bare minimum of vertical space allowing fillers of substantiallyany vertical height to be glued.

In order to reduce still further the height of the carriage 36, ahorizontally arranged glue applying wheel, or roller, 56 is providedabove the drip pan 54-. An L- shaped arm 58 is integrally provided onthe inner slide block 50 and rotatably supports a pair of meshing bevelgears 60 and 62 for driving the roller 56. The gear 60 has internalflutes which mesh with the splined shaft 24 to transmit the rotationalmovement of the shaft to the I gear 60 without limiting translationalmovement of the gear 60. The gear 62 is attached to a verticallyarranged stub shaft 64 which is rotatably received in the lower part ofthe arm 58 and carries the roller 55. As so constructed the roller 55 iscontinuously driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 65 so longas the splined shaft 24 is rotated. A counter-rotating glue roller 68 inthe right-hand carriage 38 is similarly driven in the direction of thearrow 70. It will be apparent that the peripheral speed of these rollerscan be adjusted to substantially conform to the lineal speed of thefiller being glued by conventional means associated with the drive shaft28 and with the mechanism for feeding fillers through the machine (notshown).

The outer slide block 52 is connected to the above mentioned racksegment 40 by an adjusting screw 72 Which is threadably received in anopening in the rack segment 40. The inner end of the screw 72 isslidably received in an opening in the outer block 52 and outer andinner nuts, 74 and 76 respectively, secure the screw 72 to the block 52for movement therewith. A compression spring 78 is preferably providedbetween the block 52 and the outermost nut 7 1 to permit a predetermineddegree of over travel of the screw 72 and to provide a uniform forcebetween the filler 14 and the rollers 56 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3 and68. An adjusting knob 80 allows the screw 72 to be pre-adjusted in therack segment 40 so that fillers of various thicknesses can beaccommodated but the actual travel of the carriages 36 and 38 isdetermined by the movement of the arms 44 and 48.

A glue reservoir other than the drip pan 54, is defined by appropriatehousing means 82 in the machine and is preferably located below themechanism just described as shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown,glue is pumped from the reservoir by a suitable pump, indicatedgenerally at 84, through flexible conduits 86 and 88 to the leftandhand-hand carriages, 36 and 38 respectively. The end portions of theconduits 86 and 88 are clamped to the carriages and the shut-off valves96/ and 92 are provided thereat so that the flow of glue onto eachroller can be appropriately metered. As best shown in FIG. 2, the endsof the conduits are preferably so arranged that the glue is deposited ona beveled face, 94- and 96, at the periphery of the rollers, 56 and 68respectively. Preferably and as shown, the glue is deposited on theroller 56 at roughly the opposite side thereof from that engaged by thefiller 14 and it is usually desirable to locate the end of the conduit86 slightly ahead of this position with respect to the direction ofrotation of the roller to assure that some glue flows downwardly off thebeveled face 94 and onto the vertical edge portion 95 of the rollersperiphery. In this manner glue will be deposited both on the joint areaof the fillers and on a portion of the vertical sides adjacent thereto.

It will, of course, be apparent that the operation of the push rods 44and 48 can be so timed that the rollers 56 and 68 engage each fillershortly after the leading end of the filler has passed therebetween anddisengage from the filler shortly before the trailing end reaches therollers. In this manner small unglued areas are left at the ends of thefiller and the tendency of the glue to overflow onto the end facesthereof is avoided. Suitable mechanism for so operating rods such as 44-and 48 is shown and described in the aforementioned patent applicationand therefore need not be described in detail herein.

In order to control the thickness of the glue deposited on the filler 14suitable scraper means are provided on the carriage 36. As shown, saidmeans includes a first radially extending arm 98 integrally connected atits inner end to the inner slide block St). The outer end of the arm 98extends some distance beyond the periphery of the roller 56 and carriesa plurality of individually adjustable scraper elements 1G0, 104) whichcan be preset to control the width and thickness of the film of glue onthe roller 56. Excess glue is thus scraped off the roller and into thedrip pan 54.

Preferably and as shown, the glue in the drip pan 54 is drained backinto the reservoir 32 by a return conduit 106 connected to a port in thepan 54 and to a second pump 108 at the reservoir.

While not required in all installations, a second radially extending arm102 is provided ahead of the open end portion of the conduit 86 andcarries .a second scraper element 104 for removing any glue on theroller 56 which fails to be deposited on a filler. In this manner, theroller 56 can be continuously provided with a fresh film of glue, thedrip pan 54 serving to recapture any glue removed by the scraper 1%. Ithas been found with certain types of fast setting glue that such asecondary scraper may be required in order to prevent congealing of theglue on the roller.

In accordance with the present invention, a continuous flow of glue ismaintained both to and from the rollers 56 and 68 by the conduits 86, 88and 106, 106 respectively, more glue being delivered to these rollersthan is required for gluing a filler. The pumps 84 and 108 maintain acontinuous circulation of the glue in order to prevent prematurecongealing or setting up of the glue especially in the drip pansthemselves where the glue would otherwise remain in prolonged contactwith the atmosphere. It is an important feature of the present inventionthat the reservoir 82 is provided as a separate glue receptacle whichmay be quite remote from the drip pans adjacent the glue applyingrollers 56 and 68. As so arranged, the pans can be quite shallow topermit fillers of all sizes to be accommodated in a casing-in machineequipped with a joint gluing mechanism of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a casing-in machine which includes mechanism for feeding fillerstoward a casing-in station whereat cases are mated with the fillers, theimprovement comprising glue reservoir defining means, a pair ofhorizontally 0pposed glue rollers each of which is rotatably mounted atone side of the longitudinal path of movement of said fillers forrotation about vertical axes, each of said glue rollers having aperipheral contour which conforms in vertical section generally to therelatively narrow joint area of the filler to be glued, conduit meansfor continuously delivering glue from said reservoir to each of saidrollers, means for rotating said rollers, means for moving said rollersin opposite directions generally horizontally toward and away from saidfiller path and in timed relationship with the movement of fillerstherepast, and a shallow drip pan below each of said rollers, said drippans being in communication with said glue reservoir defining means sothat glue in said pans is returned to said reservoir.

2. In a casing-in machine which includes mechanism for feeding fillerslongitudinally toward a casing-in station whereat cases are mated withthe fillers, the improvement comprising glue reservoir defining means,an elongated bed supported in the fixed frame of the machine andextending transversely above and across the longitudinal path ofmovement of said fillers, two carriages slidably mounted on said bed, aglue roller rotatably supported in each of said carriages, conduit meansfor continuously delivering glue from said reservoir to each of saidrollers, means for rotating said rollers, and means for moving saidcarriages along said bed in opposite directions toward and away from thesaid filler path and in timed relationship with the movement of fillerstherepast so that rollers move into filler engaging positions after theleading edge of the filler to be glued has been fed therepast and moveaway from said position before the trailing end of the filler reachessaid roller.

3. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of saidrollers is supported in its associated carriage for rotation about avertical axis and has a peripheral portion which includes a beveled faceadapted to receive glue from said conduit means and to engage the jointof the filler to be glued.

4. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 3 and furthercharacterized by a glue scraper means located in closely spaced relationto the beveled face of each roller to form a film of glue of controlledthickness thereon.

5. In a casing-in machine which includes mechanism for feeding fillersgenerally longitudinally toward a casingin station whereat cases aremated with the fillers, the improvement comprising a glue reservoirdefining means, an elongated horizontal bed supported in the frame ofthe machine and extending transversely above the longitudinal path ofmovement of said fillers, two carriages slidable on said bed, means formoving each of said carriages a fixed distance in opposite directionsalong said bed, two rollers rotatably supported respectively in saidcarriages for rotation in a common horizontal plane, a splined shaftrotatably supported at opposite ends in said bed and adapted to becontinuously driven as said fillers are fed, gear means between saidsplined shaft and said rollers for rotating the latter in oppositedirections and at a peripheral speed at least approximately equal tothelineal speed at which said fillers are fed, conduit means forcontinuously delivering glue from said reservoir to the peripheralportions of said rollers, a shallow drip pan below each of said rollers,return conduit means connected to said pans and to said glue reservoir,and pump 5 means at said reservoir for maintaining a continuouscirculation of glue in said conduit means to prevent setting up of theglue in said drip pans.

6. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 5 and furthercharacterized by manually operable adjusting means for presetting theposition of said carriages on said bed whereby fillers of variousthicknesses can be glued in the area of their joints,

7. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 5 Wherein each of saidrollers has a beveled peripheral upper face for receiving the gluedelivered thereto by said conduit means, which beveled face also engagesa portion of the filler to be glued, and two open ended portions of saidconduit means each of which is clamped to one of said carriages todeliver the glue to its associated roller at a portion on the peripherythereof which is generally diametrically opposed to that portion whichengages the filler.

8. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of saidrollers has a vertical peripheral edge portion below said beveled facefor depositing glue on a vertical portion of the filler adjacent thejoint area thereof.

9. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 8 and furthercharacterized by glue scraper means carried by each of said carriages,said means including at least one scraper element adapted to be locatedin closely spaced relation to the beveled face of each of said rollersto regulate the thickness of the film of glue thereon before said filmis deposited on the filler.

10. In a casing-in machine as set forth in claim 9 Wherein each of saidglue scraper means includes a secondary scraper so located in saidcarriage as to scrape substantially all excess glue from said roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1912 Norton118-227 X 5/1934 Milmoe 118-220 X

1. IN A CASING-IN MACHINE WHICH INCLUDES MECHANISM FOR FEEDING FILTERSTOWARD A CASING-IN STATION WHEREAT CASES ARE MATED WITH THE FILLERS, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING GLUE RESERVOIR DEFINING MEANS, A PAIR OFHORIZONTALLY OPPOSED GLUE ROLLERS EACH OF WHICH IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ATONE SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FILLERS FORROTATION ABOUT VERTICAL AXES, EACH OF SAID GLUE ROLLERS HAVING APERIPHERAL CONTOUR WHICH CONFORMS IN VERTICAL SECTION GENERALLY TO THERELATIVELY NARROW JOINT AREA OF THE FILLER TO BE GLUED, CONDUIT MEANSFOR CONTINUOUSLY DELIVERING GLUE FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO EACH OF SAIDROLLERS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ROLLERSIN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAIDFILLER PATH AND IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MOVEMENT OF FILLERSTHEREPAST, AND A SHALLOW DRIP PAN BELOW EACH OF SAID ROLLERS, SAID DRIPPANS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID GLUE RESERVOIR DEFINING MEANS SOTHAT GLUE IN SAID PANS IS RETURNED TO SAID RESERVOIR.